Immunization specialists help safeguard Airmen from illness

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Alystria Maurer
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  On any given day, millions of germs and viruses circulate around the neighborhoods, homes and workspaces of Airmen and families. One way the base combats harmful germs and viruses and prevents them from harming team Ellsworth is through various immune building vaccinations.

The responsibility for ensuring Ellsworth's Airmen, family members and civilians are protected against illness falls to the three Airmen of the 28th Medical Operations Squadron allergy and immunizations clinic.

The base clinic uses directives from the Center for Disease Control and Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to determine which vaccinations need to be issued and when to issue them.

"We are instructed by the CDC and ACIP on what vaccinations to give," said Staff Sgt. LoFonda Washington, 28th MDOS allergy and immunizations NCO in charge. "In addition, the DOD has strict guidelines to keep Airmen and families healthy and protected."

In order to be certified to administer vaccinations to patients, allergy and immunization technicians first attend the emergency medical technician school the Medical Education and Training Campus located on Ft. Sam Houston, Texas for five months. Following the initial school these technicians go to the Immunology and Allergy course for six weeks for a specialty in immunizations education.

Washington said that vaccinations contain small doses of the virus that are designed to help strengthen an individual's immune system, enabling a patient to be exposed to a virus without becoming ill.

"Our goal is to ensure that the base populace is safeguarded from disease," said Staff Sgt. Jesse Lownds, 432nd Attack Squadron medical element. "That way, our Airmen are mission ready at all times."

While this is a war that has no real end, the current battle being fought by Lownds and others at the clinic is making sure all Airmen are up-to-date on their flu, measles, mumps and rubella, tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis vaccinations by November.

Washington added that Airmen are encouraged to schedule their immunizations as soon as possible to prevent the spread of illness throughout the base.

"We are here to prevent work stoppage," said Lownds. "It's our goal to make sure that Airmen are healthy, able to focus on their work and know their families are well taken care of."

All Airmen, their families and DOD cardholders are eligible to receive a free flu vaccination at the immunizations clinic.

For more information, or to schedule a vaccination, call (605) 385-3365.